Tatra deal: CBI questions Ravinder Rishi

New Delhi, Apr 16 (PTI): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) questioned Vectra chairman Ravinder Rishi on Monday in connection with alleged irregularities in the supply Tatra all-terrain trucks to the Indian army.

British national Rishi, named as an accused in the CBI's FIR in alleged irregularities in purchase of the Tatra trucks, has now been questioned seven times at the CBI headquarters here. Rishi has a substantial stake in Tatra Sipox UK.

On Tuesday, the CBI will question VRS Natarajan, chairman of BEML, the public sector undertaking through which the trucks were being imported.

CBI has registered a case naming Rishi and unnamed officials of Defence Ministry, Army and BEML on March 30 for alleged criminal conspiracy, cheating and relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

CBI is probing alleged irregularities in assigning of supply from Czechoslovakia-based Tatra, with which the agreement was originally signed in 1986, to the Tatra-Sipox UK owned by Rishi in 1997 showing it as original equipment manufacturer and the fully-owned subsidiary of Czech company, they said.

A CBI spokesperson had said this was against the provisions of Defence Procurement Procedure for supplying the vehicles to Indian Army on the basis of the orders placed by the Ministry of Defence.